What Causes Dead In Bed Syndrome
A lack of detailed post-mortem notes has meant that the cause or causes of dead in bed syndrome have not been confirmed with certainty.
The evidence that has been available suggests that deaths could be caused by night time hypoglycemia triggering disturbances in heart rhythm or cardiac autonomic neuropathy .
Hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure is also thought to play a part. HAAF means patients have a reduced counter-regulatory response to hypos and reduced hypo awareness
The reduced counter-regulatory response means that the body has reduced ability to produce the adrenaline or glucagon in response to a hypo. Glucagon is the bodys blood glucose raising hormone, and so a lack of glucagon response takes away a key life saving mechanism.
Causes Of High Blood Sugar Levels
A major goal in controlling diabetes is to keep blood sugar levels as close to the desired range as possible. It’s a three-way balancing act of:
All of these need to be balanced to keep blood sugar levels under control. If any one is off, blood sugar levels can be, too.
In general, problems controlling blood sugar levels are due to one or more of the following:
- not getting enough insulin or other diabetes medicine
- not following the meal plan
- not getting enough exercise
- use of certain medicines that can raise blood sugar, like steroids used to treat inflammation
When To Go To The Er
High blood sugar can be very concerning because your body can start burning fat for energy instead of blood glucose.
This can cause conditions such as DKA and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome . These conditions are medical emergencies and can be fatal if left untreated.
DKA is a serious complication of type 1 diabetes. Its rare in people with type 2 diabetes, but can occur.
Symptoms that can indicate you should go to the emergency room include:
- ketones in your urine, as diagnosed using a urine dipstick test
- confusion
- stomach pain
- vomiting
High blood sugar levels can cause a fluid imbalance in the body and can cause the blood to become acidic in a manner that doesnt support life.
Medical treatments for these conditions include administering intravenous insulin on a continuous basis and IV fluids to correct dehydration.
Summary
High blood sugar can become a medical emergency. Go to the ER if you suspect DKA or HHS.
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Stick To Your Medication And Insulin Regimen
Skipping a dose of medication or insulin can be harmful to your body and increase your blood sugar levels.
Its important to stick to your treatment plan and follow your doctors instructions for taking your medication.
Summary
Healthful lifestyle habits can help people manage their blood sugar levels over the long term, such as eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, staying hydrated, and getting good sleep.
What Are The Causes Of Diabetic Coma
Diabetic coma is mainly caused by an extremely high or low blood sugar level. One of these conditions is diabetic hyperosmolar syndrome. It happens in people with Type 2 diabetes. If you develop this condition:
- Your blood sugar could be as high as 600 mg/dL.
- Your urine wont contain ketones usually.
- Your blood will be much thicker than normal.
Another condition is diabetic ketoacidosis, which is more common in people with Type 1 diabetes. Things to know about this condition include:
- It could happen with a blood sugar as low as 250 mg/dL or even lower in some cases.
- Your body uses fatty acids instead of glucose for fuel.
- Ketones develop in your urine and bloodstream.
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What To Do In An Emergency
A diabetic emergency happens when symptoms relating to diabetes overwhelm the body.
At this point, home treatment is unlikely to help, and delaying medical care could cause permanent damage or death.
Some of the signs that can indicate a serious problem include:
- chest pain that radiates down the arm
- difficulty breathing
- a severe headache and weakness in one side of the body
- seizures
- loss of consciousness
If there are signs of an emergency, the person should go to the emergency room, or they or someone with them should call 911 immediately.
Without rapid help, some diabetic emergencies can be life-threatening.
It is not always possible to prevent an emergency, but being able to recognize the signs can improve the chances of early treatment and a full recovery.
Strategies that can help to reduce the risk of an emergency include:
Following the treatment plan: Use medications as a doctor prescribes and keep in touch with the healthcare team. If a person cannot remember whether or not they took their last dose of drugs, they should ask a doctor before taking a further dose. This can help to prevent hypoglycemia. Anyone who notices a change in their symptoms should see a doctor.
Eating healthful, balanced, regular meals: People who use insulin or other medications that lower blood glucose should ask their doctor about what foods to eat, how much, and when, in order to maintain stable blood sugar levels. Small, frequent meals are better than fewer larger meals.
What Is Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Diabetic ketoacidosis is a potentially fatal complication of diabetes that occurs when you have much less insulin than your body needs. This problem causes the blood to become acidic and the body to become dangerously dehydrated. Diabetic ketoacidosis can occur when diabetes is not treated adequately, or it can occur during times of serious sickness.;
To understand this illness, you need to understand the way your body powers itself with sugar and other fuels. Foods we eat are broken down by the body, and much of what we eat becomes glucose , which enters the bloodstream. Insulin helps glucose to pass from the bloodstream into body cells, where it is used for energy. Insulin normally is made by the pancreas, but people with type 1 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin and must inject it daily.;;
Your body needs a constant source of energy. When you have plenty of insulin, your body cells can get all the energy they need from glucose. If you don’t have enough insulin in your blood, your liver is programmed to manufacture emergency fuels. These fuels, made from fat, are called ketones . In a pinch, ketones can give you energy. However, if your body stays dependent on ketones for energy for too long, you soon will become ill. Ketones are acidic chemicals that are toxic at high concentrations.;;
In about 25% of children with diabetes, symptoms from ketoacidosis are the first sign that they have diabetes.;
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When To Call A Professional
If you have type 1 diabetes and feel unwell, check your blood sugar levels often. Also test your urine for ketones. Call your doctor if you have:;
- Unexplained nausea and vomiting with or without abdominal pain,;
- Moderate or high levels of urine ketones, or;
- Your blood sugar is high and you can’t lower it by adjusting your insulin dose.;
Best Ways To Lower Blood Sugar Quickly
When treated early, you can bring high blood sugar levels down and prevent complications, including DKA.
Some sources suggest that drinking water or eating a high protein snack can quickly lower your blood sugar levels, though there isnt enough research to support this.
If you have high blood sugar and need to lower it fast, try the following methods:
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Is Hyperglycaemia Serious
The aim of diabetes treatment is to keep blood sugar levels as near to normal as possible.
But if you have diabetes, no matter how careful you are, you’re likely to experience hyperglycaemia at some point.
It’s important to be able to recognise and treat hyperglycaemia, as it can lead to serious health problems if left untreated.
Occasional mild episodes are not usually a cause for concern and can be treated quite easily or may return to normal on their own.
But hyperglycaemia can be potentially dangerous if blood sugar levels become very high or stay high for long periods.
Very high blood sugar levels can cause life-threatening complications, such as:
- diabetic ketoacidosis ; a condition caused by the body needing to break down fat as a source of energy, which can lead to a diabetic coma; this tends to affect people with type 1 diabetes
- hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state ; severe;dehydration caused by the body;trying to get rid of excess sugar; this tends to affect people with type 2 diabetes
Regularly having high blood sugar levels for long periods of time can result in permanent damage to parts of the body such as the eyes, nerves, kidneys and blood vessels.
If you experience hyperglycaemia regularly, speak to your doctor or diabetes care team.
You may need to change your treatment or lifestyle to keep your blood sugar levels within a healthy range.
Planning For Sick Days
Your body releases stress hormones when you are sick, which can cause hyperglycemia. Keep taking your insulin and other diabetes medications, even if you are throwing up. If you have ketones and your blood sugar is above 240 mg/dL, call your doctor. They might also want you to call if:
- You have diarrhea that lasts more than 6 hours
- You are throwing up
- You have a high fever or trouble breathing
- You feel very sleepy or confused
Continue checking your blood sugar levels and keep track of the results.
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Why Am I Having Lows
If you are experiencing low blood sugar and youre not sure why, bring a record of blood sugar, insulin, exercise;and food data to a health care provider.;Together, you can review all your data to figure out the cause of the lows.;
The more information you can give your health care provider, the better they can work with you to understand what’s causing the lows. Your provider may be able to help prevent low blood sugar by adjusting the timing of insulin dosing, exercise;and meals or snacks. Changing insulin doses or the types of food you eat may also do the trick.
References For The Various Risks Of High Blood Calcium Due To Primary Hyperparathyroidism:
- Endocr Relat Cancer.;2007 Mar;14:135-40.;The association between primary hyperparathyroidism and malignancy: nationwide cohort analysis on cancer incidence after parathyroidectomy.
- Clin Epidemiol.;2011 Mar 25;3:103-6. ;Breast cancer;associated with primary;hyperparathyroidism: a nested case control study.
- Cancer;Causes Control.;2010 Feb;21:251-7. ;Serum calcium levels are elevated among women with untreated postmenopausal;breast cancer.
- J Cancer Res Ther.;2009 Jan-Mar;5:46-8.;Hypercalcemia and treated breast cancers: the diagnostic dilemma.
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How High Can Blood Sugar Go Before Death
As said earlier, there are some engaging exceptions recorded around the world.
The highest blood sugar recorded till date was on 23 March 2008. A person of the USA named Michael Patrick Buonocore survived a blood sugar level of 147.6 mmol/L that is 2,656 mg/dl.;
Exceptionally, some people sustained life even after their sugar level raised over and beyond 1600-1900 mg/dl. Conversely, it is worth noted that not everyone is so fortunate.
Correcting High Blood Sugar Levels With Insulin
If you take insulin, one way to reduce blood sugar is to inject insulin.
However, be careful as insulin can take 4 hours or longer to be fully absorbed, so you need to make sure you take into account how much insulin you may already have in your body that is yet to be absorbed by the blood. Insulin that is yet to be absorbed by the blood is called active insulin.
If you decide to correct with insulin, watch you dont over correct as this can lead to hypoglycemia and can be dangerous, particularly so before bed.
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Checking For Diabetic Ketoacidosis
How do you know if your child has diabetic ketoacidosis? The signs and symptoms can mimic or be triggered by other illnesses, like the flu. So, it’s very important to check your child’s blood sugar levels and urine ketones during illness especially if there are;high blood sugar readings or if your child has symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis.
Because high levels of ketones in the blood cause ketones to appear in the urine, ketones can be checked at home by testing a sample of your child’s urine. If the urine test for ketones is negative, it generally means that symptoms are not due to diabetic ketoacidosis. If the urine test is positive, contact your child’s diabetes health care team.;
Tests done by a lab or hospital can confirm whether a child has;diabetic ketoacidosis, if necessary. Some newer blood glucose meters also offer the option of testing blood for ketones. Ask the diabetes health care team if such a meter is a good idea;for your child.
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It Is The Duration Of The High High Calcium That We Are Concerned About Not How High It Has Become The Longer The Calcium Is High The More Risky Dangerous And Deadly It Becomes
High blood cholesterol itself does not cause symptoms, so many people are unaware that their cholesterol level is too high. Likewise, some people with calcium levels “just a little bit elevated” have no symptoms, while others have terrible fatigue. Many doctors will say that a lot of patients with hyperparathyroidism are “asymptomatic” because they are not counting the fatigue, GERD, memory loss, high blood pressure and osteoporosis. They are only counting the “old-time” definition of hyperparathyroid symptoms which are kidney stones and spine / hip fractures. ;Because of the many studies performed in the past 2 decades , we now have overwhelming evidence that virtually all patients with high blood calcium and hyperparathyroidism have symptoms, and those uncommon “asymptomatic” patients will develop symptoms if the calcium is not decreased by removing the parathyroid tumor. As you will see from reading the list of articles below and their conclusions, 10 or more years of even slightly high calcium will increase a persons risk for heart attack, stroke, heart muscle failure, cardiomyopathy, kidney failure, carotid artery thickening, aorta calcification, and more ;Ten years of high calcium is more dangerous than 20 years of high cholesterol.
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When To Call A Doctor
If you or someone you are with has blood sugar levels that are too high or too low and feels as if they are going faint or are extremely dizzy, it is best to call 911 and go to the hospital.
In some instances, a patient can call their healthcare professional, who can tell them the proper steps needed to help them. This is a good topic for discussion during a well visit.
Causes Of Diabetic Coma
A diabetic coma occurs when blood sugar levels become either too low or too high. The cells in your body require glucose to function. High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, can make you dehydrated which can cause you to lose consciousness.
Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can cause you to lose consciousness if the brain isnt receiving enough glucose to function.
Usually, you can prevent hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia from progressing to a diabetic coma. If a diabetic coma occurs, its likely that your doctor can balance your blood glucose levels and restore your consciousness and health quickly if they can respond to your condition in a timely manner.
You can also slip into a diabetic coma if you develop diabetic ketoacidosis . DKA is a buildup of chemicals called ketones in your blood.
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Causes Of Low Blood Sugar
Low blood sugar is common for people with type 1 diabetes and can occur in people with;type 2 diabetes;taking insulin or certain medications. The average person with;type 1 diabetes;may experience up to two episodes of mild low blood sugar each week, and thats only counting episodes with symptoms. If you add in lows without symptoms and the ones that happen overnight, the number would likely be higher.
What Happens When Your Blood Sugar Is Over 700
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Hyperosmolar comaIn the case of extremely elevated blood glucose levels, usually above 1000 mg/dL , the kidneys eliminate too much water and the body dries out . Symptoms of a hyperosmolar coma include: Extremely elevated blood glucose levels of over 600 mg/dL
One may also ask, what happens when blood sugar is over 500? If blood sugar goes as high as 500 mg/dl, you may experience symptoms such as thirst, the urge to urinate more often, weight loss, low energy, and drowsiness, he says. Low blood sugar occurs when levels fall to less than 70 mg/dl.
Just so, is 800 blood sugar level dangerous?
Diabetic ketoacidosis is most common in type 1 diabetes but sometimes occurs in type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes. Diabetic hyperosmolar syndrome. If your blood sugar level tops 600 milligrams per deciliter , or 33.3 millimoles per liter , the condition is called diabetic hyperosmolar syndrome.
What can happen if your blood sugar is too high?
Having too much sugar in the blood for long periods of time can cause serious health problems if it’s not treated. Hyperglycemia can damage the vessels that supply blood to vital organs, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, vision problems, and nerve problems.
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What Are The Risk Factors For Diabetic Coma
While anyone who has diabetes is at risk for a diabetic coma, the causes depend on the type of diabetes:
- People with Type 1 diabetes have a greater chance of going into a diabetic coma as a result of diabetic ketoacidosis or hypoglycemia. This is because people with Type 1 diabetes always need insulin and have a wider range in their blood glucose levels than people with Type 2 diabetes.
- People with Type 2 diabetes have a greater chance of going into a diabetic coma from diabetic hyperosmolar syndrome than from diabetic ketoacidosis or hypoglycemia.
Other risks that can lead to diabetic coma in anyone who has diabetes include:
- Surgery.